Telephone handset earpiece



Jan. 25, 1966 w. UGARTECHEA 3,231,688

TELEPHONE HANDSET EARPIECE Filed Oct. 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M01. Pa@

Wz. L /4/1/ [faQ/e TEG/5,4

INVENTOR Mm am@ Jan. 25, 1966 w. UGARTECHEA 3,231,688

TELEPHONE HANDSET EARPIECE Filed Oct. 29, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zp17/HHM G/wEa/Ep 70 INVENTOR.

WMM 9&5

rrae/vEys.

United States Patent Ofilice 31,231,688. Patented Jan. 25, 19663,231,688 TELEPHONE HANDSET EARPIECE William Ugartechea, 4062 E. DainesDrive, Arcadia, Calif. Filed Oct. 29, 1962, Ser. No. 233,578 12 Claims.(Cl. 179-182) This invention relates to handsets for communicationinstrumen-ts, and more particularly to an improved receiver earphoneportion thereof which permits more coml fortable and efficient use ofthe instrument.

The earphone or receiver portions -of conventional handsets for radiotransceivers, radio telephones .and particularly for the various typesof the Widely used telephone, have been developed to press firmly andrather comfortably against the ear of the user. The portion contactingthe users ear is normally an angularly symmetric, annular rim which hassmooth outer surfaces and which secures the receiver transducer withinthe handset body. For the normal and unadorned ear, an adequatelyacoustically tight matching may be comfortably achieved 'between thesmooth rim an-d the pliable ear of the user. However, a very largeproportion of modern telephone users are women for whom minimal jewelrywhile Working, or otherwise using the telephone, consists of earrings.Other users have hearing aids or other hardware vafiixed to at least oneof their ears. To achieve the required acoust-ical connection betweenthe receiver and the ear while at the same time eliminating extraneousnoises, requires an appreciable lmagnitude of discomfort to the tenderear or, alternatively, requires the highly inconvenient removal of thehearing aid or earring.

Other attempts to solve this problem have typically been directed towardsimply removing a portion of the annular rim on the receiver. However,it is not usually pos-sible to remove enough material to avoiduncomfortable pressure on an earring and equally importantly, theopening so provided permits the intrusion of extraneous noise into theear.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a hand-setand earphone which is not subject to these and other disadvantages ofthe prior art.

It is another object to provide a receiver earphone which provides, withcomfort, unobstructed acoustical yconnect-ion between the receivertransducer diaphragm `and the ear of the user, and which additionallypermits the user to have earrings, hearing aids or other hardwareaffixed to the ear.

It is another object to provide such a handset receiver whicheffectively isolates the ear of the user from extraneous noises.

It is -another object @to provide for use with a conventional telephonehandset earphone a low cost removable attach-ment which permitseffective, comfortable, extended use of the telephone 'by a user wearingearrings or hearing aid devices -in or on the ear.

It is another object to provide such attachment which may at any time beused with equal advantages at either the left or the right ear of theuser.

It is another `object to provide such an attachment which is an aid tourging aside and holding away from the telephone receiver the coiffureof the user.

It is another `object to provide such attachment which directs andfocuses sounds from the receiver into the auditory canal of the ear ofthe user.

Briefly, these and other objects are achieved in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention by providing a molded extendingattachment for the receiver cap of a conventional telephone handset. Theattachment includes a short cylindrical body por-tion which fits `snuglyover the receiver cap or rim. A curved, yaudially Idirecting portionextends axially from one sector 4of the cylindrical portion away fromthe receiver and is adapted and shaped to form an open or foraminatedend which may comfortably be urged against the helix-anthelix portion ofthe ear of the user. This aud-ially directing portion defines agenerally tubular structure which acoustically communicates and funnelsaudio signals from the receiver diaphragm to the auditory canal land-inner ear of the user. The remainder of the body portion Iforms acurved surface which is closed over the remaining sector of t-hecylindrical portion. The angle of the sector of the tubular portion maybe approximately 120 degrees or one third that of the total cylindricalportion.

The novel features and their operation as Well as additional objects andadvantages will become apparent and lbe best understood from aconsideration of the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. l is a plan View of a presently preferred example of a telephonereceiver attachment constructed in accordance with the principle of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 taken alongthe lines 2--2 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a frontal elevational View of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially sectional, partially side elevational view of analternative example `of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a bottom View of the structure shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is `a pictorial View of a telephone handset constructed linaccordance with another example of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the example of an earphone attachmentconstructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a partially sectioned View of the handset receiver shown inFIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the device of FIG. 8 taken along thedirection of the arrow 9 thereof; and

FIG. 10 is .a plan View of the device `of FIG. 8 taken along thedirection of the arrow 1d thereof.

Referring to the figures in more detail, it is stressed that ithedetails shown are by way of example only and are presented in the causeof providing what is believed to 'be the most useful and readilyunderstood description of the invention. T-he detailed showing is not tobe taken as a limitation upon the scope of the invention which is to bemeasured by the appended claims forming a part of this specification.

In FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 3, an example of the invention in the form-of a readily removable, sn-ap-on attachment 25 is illustrated. Atpresent this embodiment is considered to be particularly adapted toachieve the objects and exhibit the advantages of the invention. In'ad-dition, the relatively simpler structural features of this examplelend themselves to -a relatively brief description `and discussion.Other embodiments and combinations and environmental details will bepresented separately i-n connection with the subsequent figures.

The attachment 25 is preferably molded in one piece from polyethylene orpropylethylene or other durable, semi-flexible plastic materials. Thewall thickness can be substantially uniform and is preferably of theorder of .O inch.

The body of the attachment includes a short cylindrical portion 26having an open end 23 and a substantially closed end 30. A radiallyinwardly extending bead 32 may be formed inside the end 28 and mayextend about the entire periphery of the cylindrical portion, as

shown, or may consist of aplurality of tangentially short bead segments.The function of the bead 32 is to retain with angular freedom foradjustment the attachment over vthe receiver retaining cap Aof aconventional ,telephonehandset (seethe .later lgureS). The b eadmaybesnapped into the usual annular channeljformed around thebase of thereceiver cap where vit vjoins thehandset. To 'that end, inethis example,the inner diameter'o'f the attachment 25 is made approximately equal t0the outer diameter of. the receiver cap.

Atubularportion 34'protrudes axially beyond the end '.30 of'thecylindr'ical portion 26 and is terminated in a contoured endmember36. which'is shaped and dimensioned tot comfortably against the outerear of the user. The tubular portion`34 has an inner width which isconsiderably'reduced with respect Vto that of the cylindricallportion26'and is adapted, as is apparent'from the figure, 'to directandfunne'l audio signals from the cylindrical portion 26 into thetubular portion 34 toward the end member 36.The'end-memberimay'beforaminated withl an array 37 of small :openingsYor maybe more substantially-relieved as suggested 'inthe subsequentfigures. 'In 'this example the end-member 36 is 'contoured concavely inits central portion to provide'greatercomfort and -an improvedacoustical matching between 'the tubular por- 'tion'f34 andfthe ear ofthe user.

Itfmay be notedthat, in plan, the tubular portion 34 -isgenerally-sector shaped having an apex near theaxis of thecylindricalportion 2 6 andfsubtending an arc along a-porti'onof thecylindrical surface thereof of approximately 120 degrees. This smallarcuate dimension ofthe raised or protruding portion -of the attachmentprovides considerable Yversatility-of use -regarding different users,ileftfor rightear, and a-wide range Aof different earringsor otherhardware aixed to the ear.

The remainder'of theend 30 lis'closettby `a contoured surface -whichcooperates with the outersurface 39 'of the tubularportion 34 to deine aregionisolated -from -the internal -acoustical channel and Withinwhichthe Vear lobe and an4 earringl may `ber comfortablydisposed'without permitting extraneous noise to enter the acousticalchannel.

Referring to FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, an example fof vthe `invention :isillustrated whichfis -similar in most respects to that of the previousfigures except that an attachment #this shownawhichreplaces theconventional receiver'retaining cap. Theattachment` 40 isheldseeurelyonto the handset vbyfa set of threadsJiZ which are vformeduinside .the end ,44 `of..a short .cylindrical portion yfdthe opposite.end iofwhich ymay be "formed substantially as indicated;ab,ove;in.1connection with the structure lshown `inthe pre- .vious.gures To this end, the .same referencenumerals :have been appliedtothepresent viigures even-though the .structureniay .in `a `:physicalembodiment be somewhat different. For example, the inner diameter ofVthe Vattach- .men'tg251may `be slightlymore than that of the attachmentAtlabecause ,thezfonner iitsfiover the retaining Capt-while the.latterreplacesiit .and has a lesser outerdiameter-in yorder .to conform:with Lthat;of the :remainder ofthe receiver ,portion ofthe handset. g f

The .threads 42 'may be molded or machinedl into the 4cylindricalportion 4.6 to vmatch those of the :receiver vto rwhichthe3attachmentlisrto'fbe aliixed. When the con- .Yentionalica'p;is:removed:andtheaattachment t) affixed to the handsetreceivena setofradiallyiinwardly vextending retaining memberstlmolded integrallyiwiththe body of -theattachment 40 engage the loose ,receiver portions andretainthem securely withinxthe ybody'ofthe handset. Thefret-ainingmembers 50 may takeimany formsalternative to that shown; for example, aportion of lthe contouredesurface 38gmaybe .utilized as atleast apart-'ofthe IetaningmeanS. In addition, means in the .form of a"separate,.nonintegra1ly formed member, not shown,-may 'be .insertedwithin `the .attachment forpcompressively re- ;tainingpthe receiverportions.` intogthe handset: body.

In the remaining iigures, a detailed alternative embodiment of theinvention is illustrated; and the environment and use of the inventionas .well as its combination in an otherwise conventional telephonehandset is shown.

In FIG. 6 there is shown a'handset 60 in use position by a female user.Thehandsetincludes `a hand portion 62, a transmitter mouthpiece portion64,- and anearphone receiver portion 66. Anfextending ange portion 68 isshown in this-example :pressed'against lan external ear of the user,andthe ligure villustrates the function of the curved lip of theextending angeportion 68, discussedv in more detail below, rinurgingaside and holding away the coiffure of the user from the space betweenthe earphone portion '6`6-and theear of the user. The handset 6i)includingits hand portion '62, mouthpieceportioni, earphone portion '66,.and 'flange portion 68 is disposed substantially symmetrically abouta'long'itudinal plane?, which is longitudinal vwith ,respect to thelength of the handset /60and which'is perpendicular to theplane of thedrawing. A'Thus'the handset '60 is equally adaptable for use ,witheither the left or'the vright ear of the user.

Referring'to AFIG. 7, a telephone receiver attachment 70 isshown in'perspective 'as an integral unit disassociated 'from the remainder ofthe telephone receiver. The attachment70 Vincludes an axiallyshort-cylindrical body "72 which has=a cylindricalside portion'74extending approximately 1180-degrees around the cylindrical body"`72.The cylindricalesideportionlf74 issymmetrically disposed about theline-P--P Which-represents the intersection ofthe attachment'7t) with-theplane-P shown in FIG. 6. The cylindrical -body '7-2 includes a secondcylindrical side portion "f7-@Which extends axially 4further to theright in Vthe'iigurefthandoes the side portion '74. The sideportion76iis longest along the line P-P.

yThe cylindrical body 72 is 'partially occluded at its in this exampleforms a depression 80 which is contoured concavely into lchamber definedby the cylindrical body 172 and-the curvedsurface 78. Contiguously`tothe Ydepression fthe ,cur-ved surface l78 forms a contoured`protuberance =S2lwhich 'projects-outwardly and is dimensioned Ito=press against the lower rforward edge of `the opening-in .the users:outer ear, Thefwall of lthe protuberance 82Vadjacent to the depression80,in cooperation with 'the cylindrical side port-ion 76, 'forms atubular auditory ychannel 84 which -communicates lbet-Ween the auditory`canal of the users ear and the receiver transducer 'ofthetelephonehandset. When-'the attachment 70 is fin use, the rtubular auditorychannel 184 directs and focuses :the .sound :from/the receivertransducerinto the .opening `ofrtheearfofttheuser; and at the same time ytheprotuberancefSZ precludes the` introduction of extraneous noise into theauditory channel of thelear of the user. This-:feature .of theattachment as well as thedepression 3.0 will be.discussed and vdescribedfurther 1in connection with the description of FIG. 8 below. v

.The :tcllrvedsurfa'ce 78 yextends lfrom the periphery of .thecylindrical Vside portion y7AE- ytothe periphery of the side :portion.-76 andpassesitherebeyond to form the extendxinggflange portionl'S.yTh'eiange extends about and is substantially concentri'cwith a portion`of the periphery vof.fthe :cylindricalside `port-ion 76 where theconcentric portion may subtend approximately 90degrees to 120 degrees ofthe arc of: the:.cylindrical sidefportion 76. The zextendingiangeportion :'68 is `shaped andidimensioned ato tcomfortzably against theVhelix-anthelix portion of the usersear.

' Referring :to 1F16. .18, `a section :taken .along .the line :P..-P or'..linesgtS-S vof EIG.-;6 is `shown against the ear of the user .alsoindicated .in fsection. ,The .inner diameter-.of thepcylindrical bodyf72is-approximately equal tothe :outer'gdiameteriof thereceiver rim 86,overwhich -it is shown torbe ,snugly impressed. About-the t periphery,of'thegright handendf vthe .cylindrical :body 72 1s an .inwardly:,extcnding, radially islight :ridge 183 pwhich ,is

adapted to be impressed into the annular channel 90 between the rim 86and the remainder of the receiver earphone portion 66. The attachment 70is preferably made of a semi-rigid plastic material, such aspolyethylene and thus is firmly yet removably attached to the receiverearphone portion of the handset 60. Such a semi-rigid material is alsopreferable with respect to the advantage of providing comfort to theuser since such a material readily exhibits a satisfactory smoothnessand compliance with the shape of the users ear.

The protuberance 82 is shown to extend toward the lower and forward edgeof the auditory canal of the ear of the user. The communication of thetubular auditory channel 84 between the receiver earphone and theauditory canal of the ear of the user is clearly illustrated in thefigure by the shape of the walls of the channel 84 which are for-med bythe protuberance 82 and the cylindrical side portion 76 of thecylindrical body 72. It is also clear that while the channel S4 directsand focuses the sound from the receiver into the auditory -canal of theear, it also precludes the introduction into the channel or the auditorycanal of extraneous noises, particularly from the direction of thetransmitter mouthpiece 64. Thus any deleterious or annoying regenerativefeedback between the receiver and transmitter portions of thecommunication system is avoided. The depression 80 in the c-urvedsurface 78 is shown accommodating an earring 90 affixed to the lobe ofthe ear of the user. Thus effective auditory communication may beachieved between the receiver and the ear while excluding extraneousnoises and at the same time accommodating comfortably an earring orother hardware affixed to the ear of the user.

Referring to FIGS. 9 and 10, the symmetry of the attachment 70 about theplane P is illustrated in the respective elevational and planpresentations. The curved surface 78 with its depression 80,protuberance 82, and extending flange portion 68 and their relationshipto the cylindrical body 72 are shown. The tubular auditory channel 84 isshown to terminate, in this example, in a sector-like opening in thesurface 78. The opening has a pair of side segments 92, the extensionsof which would intersect near the axis of the cylindrical body 72. Theangle between the segments 92 is approximately in the range of 90degrees to 120 degrees. The arc portion 94 of the sector-like opening isof like angle and lies contiguously along the intersection of thecylindrical body 72 with the curved surface 7 8.

There has thus been disclosed and described a receiver handset andattachment which achieves the objects enumerated above and which hasamong its several advantages those set forth and described above.

What is claimed is:

1. A molded plastic attachment for a telephone handset having a shortcylindrical receiver portion and a threaded receiver retaining capapplied thereover, the attachment comprising: a short, hollowcylindrical body portion having first and second ends and having aninner diameter equal at least to approximately the outer diameter ofsaid cylindrical receiver portion; a short, tubular protuberance portionextending axially outwardly from said cylindrical body portion andpartially occluding said first end there-of, said protuberance `definingwith said cylindrical portion a continuous auditory channel funnelingrespectively from a larger to a smaller channel cross section; and endportion for terminating the end of said protuberance opposite from saidcylindrical portion and being smoothly formed with said protuberance tofit comfortably against the outer ear of a user, said end portion bein-gpartially open to define an acoustical coupling between said receiverportion and the inner ear of said user; and a nonprotruding closureportion affixed over said first end of said cylindrical portion forjoining with structural continuity the walls of said cylindrical portionto those of said tubular protuberance, the external surfaces of saidprotuberance portion and said non-protruding closure portion therebydefining an acoustically isolated clearance region about the lobe of theear of the user.

2. The invention according to claim 1 in which said end portion is aninwardly protruding foraminated structure smoothly joined about itsperiphery to said protuberance portion.

3. The invention according to claim 1 in which said protuberance portionin axial, plan view defines a sectorlike portion of the circular outlineof said cylindrical portion.

4. The invention according to claim 3 in which said sector-like portionsubtends an arc of said circular outline of the order of 120 degrees.

5. The invention according to claim 3 in which said second end of saidshort cylindrical portion includes a radially inwardly projectingretaining ridge extending about at least a portion of the periphery ofsaid cylindrical portion.

6. Theiinvention according to claim 3 in which the inner cylindricalsurface of said second end is threaded and in which said attachmentdefines a complete replacement for said threaded receiver retaining cap.

7. The invention according to claim 6 in which further includes radiallyinwardly projecting means affixed to the inner cylindrical surface ofsaid cylindrical portion for retaining said receiver within saidhandset.

8. An attachment member for a telephone handset receiver comprising amolded body portion having an open tubular first end for securinglyattaching said member over the end of said receiver and having a secondend comprising a protruding, axially directed portion extending awayfrom said first end and adapted to contact the upper and rearward earportion of the user; a short tubular horn portion disposed within saidbody portion and extending from the diaphragm of said receiver alongsaid axially directed portion and communicating acoustically betweensaid diaphragm and the ear of the user, the remainder -of said secondend being a closed three-dimensional surface cooperating with theexternal surface of said horn portion to define a region comfortablyisolated from said receiver for other hardware affixed to the ear of theuser.

9. A capping member for a telephone handset receiver comprising a moldedbody portion having an open, threaded, cylindrical first end forsecuringly attaching said member over the matchingly threaded end ofsaid receiver and having a second end comprising an acousticallydirecting tubular portion extending away from said first end and adaptedto contact the upper and rearward ear portion of the user and deiining ahorn extending and communicating acoustically from the diaphragm of saidreceiver to the ear of the user, the remainder -of said second end beinga closed three-dimensional surface having a portion which cooperateswith said tubular portion to define a region for comfortably isolatingsaid receiver from other hardware aflixed to the ear of the user whilechanneling audio signals from said receiver to the inner ear of theuser.

10. In a telephone handset ofthe character including a central handleportion with a transmitter mouthpiece disposed at one end and a receiverearphone at the other, the handset being substantially symmetricallydisposed about a longitudinal plane, the earphone being terminated witha transducer diaphragm and an annular rim having an axis lying in saidlongitudinal plane, said annular rim and said earphone forming anintended annular channel along the juncture of their outer surfaces, anattachment molded of a semi-rigid plastic material to permitcomfortable, prolonged and repeated use of the handset while the userhas other hardware affixed to the ear, the attachment comprising: ashort thin-walled cylindrical body having an inner diameterapproximately equal to the outer diameter of said annular rim and havinga radially slight, inwardly protruding annular bead disposed about theperiphery of one end of said cylindrical body 7 adapted to engagesaid-indented annular channel to secure removably the attachment to saidearphone; a curved surface wall partially occluding the opposite end ofsaid cylindrical body, said cylindrical tbody having first and secondoppositely disposed wall portions, said rst wall portion comprising aiirst approximately one-half of the circumference of said cylindricalbody, said second wall portion extending axially Ybeyond said rst Wallportion, said curved surface wall extending from said first wall to saidsecond wall to form with said second wall a Vtubular protuberancecontoured to extend toward the front and loweredge of the opening in theLexternal .ear of the user and having a partially closed end which iscontoured to fit against the helix-antheli-x region of the ear of theuser, said curved surface wall including a Acontoured portion foraccommodating other hardware affixed to the ear of the-user, said curvedsurface :wall including a protuberance the inner surface o f said secondcylindrical Wall portionl and said protuberance forming thereby atubular open channel for discriminatory auditory communication betweensaid `receiver transducer and the auditory canal of the ear o f the user the cross sectionfof said tubular protuberance being generallysector-shaped with the apex of the sector disposed lnear the axis ofsaid cylindrical body, the magnitude of said arc 'being in the range of90 degrees to 120 degrees.

l1. An attachment for the receiver portion of a telephone yhandset ofthecharacter which includes an annular 'eri-m and cap for retaining thetransducer of the receiver and which provides an annular indentationaround the outer surface of the receiver portion between said rim andthe remainder ,of said receiver portion, said rim and cap `bein-g aligure of revolution about an axis lying in a plane of symmetrylongitudinally disposed through said handset, the central portion ofsaid cap ybeing acoustically apertured and depressed toward saidtransducer, said attachment comprising: la short cylindrical bodyofmolded plastic dimensioned' to fit-snugly over said rim and terminatedat one end by a radially inwardly .extending bead adapted to engageremovably for support said annular indentation, said cylindrical bodybeing symmetrically disposed with respect to an axial plane and having arst sho-rter wall portion and an appositely, disposed .second longerWall portion, a curved, end wall portion partiallyv occluding said.cylindrical body at its end opposite from said-bead, said endy wallportion extending from said tirst shorter portion and including -adepression adapted to follow contiguously, in part, the depressedcentraly portion of said cap yand further including an `aperturedextension adapted to project away fromV said' transducer toward theopening in the outer ear of the user and further including a flangeportion extending radially and axially beyond the end of -saicl secondlonger wall portion .to form a attened surface adapted to be pressedcomfortably against the helix-anthelix portion ofI the ear ofthe user;said curved end wall also being symmetrically disposed about said axial?plane, said depression having dimensions to accom modate comfortablyhardware affixed to the ear of the user, said'apertured'v extensionlforming a tubular acoustical channel from said transducer to theauditory canal of the ear -of the user while discriminating against theintrusion therein of extraneous noises.

12. YIn a telephone :handset ofsthe". character including a centralhandle portion with a @transmitter vmouthpiece disposed at one end and areceiver earphone at the. other, the handset being substantiallysymmetrically ,disposed about a longitudinal plane, the earphone lbeingterminated. with a transducer diaphragm andan annular rim having an axislying in said longitudinal plane, said 'annular rim and said earphoneforming an indented annular channel along the juncture vof their outersurfaces, an attachment molded of a semi-rigid plastic material Yto'.permit cornfortable, prolonged andfrepeated use ofthe handset `Whilethe user has other hardware aixed to the1ear',1the attach-v mentcomprising: a short .thin-Walled cylindrical Vbody having an innerdiameter approximately equal Vto the outer diameter of said annular rimand having .a ,radially slight', inwardly protruding annular bead'disposed about the periphery of vone/end Vofsaidcylindrical body adaptedto yengage said indented annular `channel to removably secure theattachment .to said earphone; a curved surface wall partially occludingthe opposite end of said cylindrical body,'said cylindrical'bodylhaving,`irst and second oppositely disposed wall portions, vsaid irst `wallporti-on comprising a first approximately'one-'half of the circumfference of said cylindrical body, said second Wall portion extendingaxially approximately twice the length of saidv rst wall portion, saidcurved surface wall extending from said tirst wall to said second wallandxtherebeyond to form a flange extending circumferentially about asecond approximately one-half of saidv cylindrical body and con,- touredto fit against the helix-anthelix region .of the ear of the user, saidcurved surface wall including a concavely contoured portion .depressinginto the lchamber delined by said cylindrical body and said curvedsurface wall for accommodating other hardware 4aflixed to the ear of theuser, said curved surface wall including a protuberance contoured toextend toward the front and lower edge of the opening in the internalear ofthe user, the inner surface of said second cylindrical wallportion and -said protuberance forming a tubular open channel fordiscriminatory auditory communication between said receiver transducerand the auditory canal of the ear o f the user, the terminal crosssection of Vsaid tubular channel being generallysector-shaped with ,theapex ofthe sector disposed near saidprotuberance. and nlearthe axisofi'said cylindrical body, the .arc Aof saidV sector ubeing .disposedcontiguously to and substantiallyy concentric with said flange, themagnitude of' said -arc ,being inthel range. of degrees lto 120degrees,`

References Cited by the Examiner ROBERT H. ROSE, Primary Examiner.

WALTER L. I f'lLDl7 Examiner,-

1. A MOLDED PLASTIC ATTACHMENT FOR A TELEPHONE HANDSET HAVING A SHORTCYLINDRICAL RECEIVER PORTION AND A THREADED RECEIVER RETAINING CAPAPPLIED THEREOVER, THE ATTACHMENT COMPRISING: A SHORT, HOLLOWCYLINDRICAL BODY PORTION HAVING FIRST AND SECOND ENDS AND HAVING ANINNER DIAMETER EQUEL AT LEAST TO APPROXIMATELY THE OUTER DIAMETER OFSAID CYLINDRICAL RECEIVER PORTION; A SHORT, TUBULAR PROTUBERANCE PORTIONEXTENDING AXIALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID CYLINDRICAL BODY PORTION ANDPARITALLY OCCLUDING SAID FIRST END THEREOF, SAID PROTUBERANCE DEFININGWITH SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION A CONTINUOUS AUDITORY CHANNEL FUNNELINGRESPECTIVELY FROM A LARGE TO A SMALLER CHANNEL CROSS SECTION; AND ENDPORTION FOR TERMINATING THE END OF SAID PROTUBERANCE OPPOSITE FROM SAIDCYLINDRICAL PORTION AND BEING SMOOTHLY FORMED WITH SAID PROTUBERANCE TOFIT COMFORTABLY AGAINST THE OUTER EAR OF A USER, SAID END PORTION BEINGPARTIALLY OPEN TO DEFINE AN ACOUSTICAL COUPLING BETWEEN SAID RECEIVERPORTION AND THE INNER EAR OF SAID USER; AND A NONPROTRUDING CLOSUREPORTION AFFIXED OVER SAID FIRST END OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTION FORJOINING WITH STRUCTURAL CONTINUITY THE WALLS OF SAID CYLINDRICAL PORTIONTO THOSE OF SAID TUBULAR PROTUBERANCE, THE EXTERNAL SURFACES OF SAIDPROTUBERANCE PORTION AND SAID NON-PROTRUDING CLOSURE PORTION THEREBYDEFINING AN ACOUSTICALLY ISOLATED CLEARENCE REGION ABOUT THE LOBE OF THEEAR OF THE USER.